The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-06-17
The Agricultural College Meeting

to have been called for the election of
Board of Trustees, the law for an
annual meeting having been disregarded
for several years Four of the trustees
were present, and showed their object
was to retain, by any means available,
the control in their hands. They ap-
pointed one of their number chairman,
second secretary, and the other two
tellers. There were but five other
stockholders present., and it appears
that the reporters of the papers we're
excluded by the officers, though this
was not known it is believed, to the
meeting.
So ludicrous meeting is seldom
seen for serious purposes. Several per-
sons talked at once, addressing each
other instead of the chair; motions
accumulated two or three d,ep and
were not voted upon or not put; the
chairman, Mr.. Wilmot johnson,
through ignorance or incapacity, got
things in muddle from the start, and
was several times rebuked by one of
those present, Mr. Charles B. Calvert,
of Prince Georges who declared his
actions were arbitrary, unparliamentary
and unfair. He not only acted as
chairman and appointed the tellers,
but had the bulk of the proxies. When
a proxy was offered of the stock of DIR.
Mercer's estate, it was found that the
power of attorney, given years ago to
gentleman to vote it, had been re.dele-
gated to Mr.. johnson. Protest was
made against its reception, but the
chairman declined to consider it, throw
ing the responsibility on the tellers.
Mr.. Sands, seconded by DR.. W. W.
Waring, of Prince Georges, moved the
tellers report how many shares were
represented by proxies that were emtitl-
ed to be voted. Much confusion pre-
vailed. and the motion was not put.
Col. Jno. Carroll Walsh, one of the
tellers, said there were about 5000
shares, but his colleague, Mr.. Allen
Dodge, would not commit himself to
the admission of the Mercer stock,
legal questions involved, and contented
himself with the statement that the
proxies presented footed up the number
of votes stated. One of the stockhold-
ers present reported that he had sought
advice from an eminent counsellor,
and was assured that proxy to vote
stock delegated anew to another party
was absolutely void, unless the original
power of attorney contained a provis-
ion authorizing it. The proxy of the
representative of the Mercer estate did
not do this.
At this point the chairman lost his
head and declared ballot had been
taken, but amid several protests, and
being instructed by Col Walsh that no
ballot had yet even been ordered, he
entertained, put and declared carried a
motion that Col. W. should cast bal
lot for the old Board. This was then
done, the question of the admission of
the Mercer stock not being actually
passed upon at all, though it was count
ed. The protests were made as basis
for action if the legality of the election
is tested. A Il of those present except
the four trustees refrained from voting.
Mr.. johnson voted about $500 shares,
including the 1,500 of the Mercer
estate, nearly all the balance likewise
belonging to estates Of persons deceased;
Col. Walsh 500, and Mr.. Dodge 300.
The stock book was not brought to
the meeting, and there existed no
means of ascertaining who were owners
or holders of stock.
Prior to the adjournment, Mr.. Geo.
H. Calvert, of Prince Georges, asked
that the members of the Board should
state whether the current report was
well.grounded that the trustees were
ignorant of the real condition of the
college and knew nothing of its
finances, liabilities, etc. The only reply
obtained was from Col. Walsh, who
said there would be meeting on June
10th of the Board, when it was expect
ed full statement of the affairs OF the
college would be forthcoming.
The farmers of Maryland will see
from these proceedings who control,
and how they control, an institution
which was established for the benefit of
agriculture, which now practically be-
longs to the state, and which is main.
tanned in the name of agriculture, and
by the liberality of the United States
government.
The stock of the college has abso-
lutely no pecuniary value, yet less than
third of it was voted, the direction of
the institution, with the large annual
appropriation to it, falling into the
hands of such persons as can control
the stock originally subscribed by per-
sons concerned in agriculture but now
represented, in many instances, by
those who have no interest whatever in
it. Some of the trustees have recently
bought stock, enabling them to per-
petuate their control.
If any ask what connection Mr..
Wilmot Johnson, who seems to be the